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Suicidal Carbon Monoxide Poisoning by Combining Formic Acid and Sulfuric Acid Within a Confined Space
Author(s) -
Lin Peter T.,
Dunn William A.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of forensic sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.715
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1556-4029
pISSN - 0022-1198
DOI - 10.1111/1556-4029.12297
Subject(s) - formic acid , sulfuric acid , carbon monoxide , hydrogen sulfide , carbon monoxide poisoning , poison control , acid gas , chemistry , medicine , accidental , sulfur , medical emergency , inorganic chemistry , organic chemistry , physics , acoustics , catalysis
Suicide by inhalation of carbon monoxide produced by mixing formic acid and sulfuric acid within a confined space is a rare method of suicide. This method is similar to the so‐called “detergent suicide” method where an acid‐based detergent is mixed with a sulfur source to produce hydrogen sulfide. Both methods produce a toxic gas that poses significant hazards for death investigators, first responders and bystanders. Carbon monoxide is an odorless gas, while hydrogen sulfide has a characteristic rotten eggs odor, so the risks associated with carbon monoxide are potentially greater due to lack of an important warning signal. While detergent suicides have become increasingly common in the USA , suicide with formic acid and sulfuric acid is rare with only three prior cases being reported. Greater awareness of this method among death investigators is warranted because of the special risks of accidental intoxication by toxic gas and the possibility that this method of suicide will become more common in the future.